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Workplace belonging & engagement expert

Adam Smiley Poswolsky

Workplace Wellbeing

Workplace Culture

Company Culture

Transform workplace belonging with Adam Smiley Poswolsky, speaker specializing in employee engagement and human connection. Smiley works with organizations to foster inclusive cultures and combat workplace loneliness, delivering impactful keynotes for Apple, Google, and JPMorgan Chase across 25 countries.

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Trusted by Apple, Google, JPMorgan Chase

Adam Smiley Poswolsky

San Francisco, United States

Typical fee range

$26k–50k

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San Francisco, United States

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+44 203 835 2929

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Adam Smiley Poswolsky's biography

Coach

Gen Z

Business Leader

Professional

Motivational

At a glance

Renowned Workplace Belonging Speaker and Expert
Advisor to Companies like Apple, Google, and U.S. Navy on Employee Engagement
Featured in Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times

Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky is a highly regarded workplace belonging speaker and expert. He specializes in helping companies foster human connection and belonging in today's ever-changing workforce. With extensive experience, he provides leaders with practical tools and strategies to attract and retain top talent, enhance employee engagement, and cultivate a culture of belonging. Smiley has worked with renowned organizations such as Apple, Google, Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, and the U.S. Navy. He has delivered over 600 keynotes in 25 countries. His work has been recognized and featured in prestigious media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and the New York Times. Smiley offers a diverse range of speech topics, including the power of human connection, creating a sense of belonging in the era of hybrid work, effectively engaging the multigenerational workforce, building a people-first hybrid culture, and highlighting the significance of friendship in combating the prevalent issue of loneliness. Through his captivating presentations, Smiley equips organizations with actionable takeaways and practical tools to thrive in today's dynamic workplace.

Smiley's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Building A People-First Hybrid Culture: How To Thrive In A Hybrid World

In the wake of the pandemic, most employees prefer hybrid work and would leave a job without a hybrid policy. However, the focus often remains on when employees are in the office versus at home. Workplace belonging expert Smiley Poswolsky believes the key question is why people come together. Smiley argues that hybrid work is about future connections, not location. Employees often find themselves commuting only to see their team working remotely or on Zoom calls all day. Attendees will learn five ways to build a high-performing hybrid workplace, foster psychological safety, and build trust in a hybrid environment.

Creating Human Connection And Community In The Era Of Hybrid, AI, And Overwhelm

In today's nonstop, overwhelmed workplace dominated by Zoom meetings and Slack messages, workplace connection has diminished. With 43% of employees feeling disconnected from coworkers, 38% lacking trust, and 22% having no friends at work, disengagement is at an all-time high. Lonely employees are less productive, costing U.S. employers $406 billion annually. High levels of belonging, however, can save companies $52 million a year. Attendees will learn five ways to increase workplace belonging, understand and foster psychological safety, avoid proximity bias, and implement cost-free team habits to combat burnout and low morale.

The Power Of Human Connection: How Leaders Can Build Belonging At Work

In this timely, interactive, and actionable presentation, Smiley Poswolsky argues that the future of work hinges on human connection. Post-pandemic, 70% of employees feel disconnected, leading to lower productivity and retention. Conversely, fostering workplace belonging boosts resilience, well-being, and growth, resulting in a 56% increase in job performance and a 170% increase in employer promoter score. Well-connected employees can save large organizations up to $52 million annually. Attendees will learn five ways to enhance workplace connection, foster psychological safety, improve onboarding and training, and see a real-life example of a company that successfully built employee connections.

Friendship in Loneliness: Build Resilient, High-Performing Teams and Thrive

Loneliness pervades society today, with half of Americans feeling isolated and disconnected, especially in the workplace where team cohesion falters. Yet, the research underscores the profound impact of workplace friendships on engagement. Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky, in his recent book "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness," advocates prioritizing friendships as a solution to modern pressures. He offers strategies for leaders to foster connections, boost team performance, and enhance well-being. Through practical habits and playful exercises, Smiley emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships within and beyond work. Attendees will gain insights into creating a culture of connection, fostering psychological safety, and deepening meaningful bonds, empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.

Engage & Retain a Multigenerational Workforce

As the war for talent intensifies and the labor market tightens, five generations are converging in a dynamic hybrid workplace for the first time. To overcome intergenerational tension and misunderstandings, leaders must foster a culture of trust and belonging. In this engaging and actionable presentation, workplace belonging expert Smiley Poswolsky will guide you on attracting, retaining, and engaging future talent through purpose, flexibility, well-being, and human connection. Attendees will learn five keys to engaging a multigenerational workforce, understand Gen-Z's workplace expectations, and discover strategies to foster collaboration and trust across generations.

Why we recommend booking Smiley

Smiley brings unparalleled expertise in fostering workplace belonging, offering your team actionable strategies to enhance connection and engagement. With experience from working with giants like Apple and Google, he delivers insights that can transform your organizational culture and boost retention. Booking Smiley means investing in a future where every employee feels valued and connected, driving your company's success in the dynamic modern workforce.

Check Smiley's availability

Trusted by Apple, Google, JPMorgan Chase

Testimonials

Smiley was an outstanding opening keynote speaker for us. Smiley's powerful and timely message around The Power of Human Connection and how to foster belonging in our associations and meetings, whether at the office or on Zoom, was a perfect fit. Not only were our event organizers talking about Smiley's presentation throughout the Summit, but Smiley spent the rest of the day and evening connecting with our partners and sponsors. He stuck around for networking activities at the pool, attended a group dinner, and even got on stage during karaoke. In short, he showed up fully for PCMA and was a delight to work with.

Meredith Rollins

Executive Director, PCMA

Smiley was the keynote speaker for Circa's Diversity Symposium on Building Belonging in the Workplace. It was a fabulous event. We loved Smiley's authenticity, evidenced based data, vulnerability and energy.

Cathy Hill

Vice President Marketing & Product Management, Circa

Smiley delivered an incredibly impactful, insightful, and engaging opening keynote presentation for Anywhere Real Estate's Week of Understanding. There were so many great takeaways and we've received tremendous feedback. I was at a meeting this morning and some folks were quoting Smiley! Smiley made a huge impact through his words, and positive messages which he delivered with so much passion and conviction about the value of belonging and the power of human connection.

Irlana Ho

Senior Manager, Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Talent & Culture, Anywhere Real Estate

Featured Projects

Adam Smiley Poswolsky - Friendship In The Age Of Loneliness book cover

Adam Smiley Poswolsky - The Quarter-Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, And Build A Life That Matters book cover

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How do I book Adam Smiley Poswolsky for my next event?

Email adam.smiley.poswolsky@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Smiley's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.

What is Adam Smiley Poswolsky's speaking style like?

Adam Smiley Poswolsky structures his presentations around five enumerated takeaways, delivering stat-led arguments on workplace belonging before closing with a real-world company case study.

What topics does Adam Smiley Poswolsky specialise in?

Smiley Poswolsky speaks on hybrid workplace culture, human connection and belonging, psychological safety, and employee disengagement. He has delivered over 600 keynotes across 25 countries for organisations including Apple, Google, JPMorgan Chase, and the U.S. Navy.

Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

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